Thanh Trung, a resident of Vinh Diem Trung urban area, brought his car to a private workshop on the 24th but is still waiting for an inspection. "We have four cars, and only two have been taken for repair so far; the others are still waiting", Trung explained.

Trung's flood-damaged vehicle is at the workshop, but mechanics have not yet opened the hood to assess the extent of damage due to the backlog. The repair center cannot provide a clear completion timeline.

Le Uyen, another car owner with a flood-damaged vehicle, chose to send her car to Ho Chi Minh City for repairs. She expressed concern about the overloaded service centers in Nha Trang, stating, "If left for too long, the car could rust and suffer more severe damage".

Flood-damaged vehicles line up for repairs outside the Kia, Mazda, and Peugeot dealership system (under Thaco) in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa. *Photo: Bui Toan*

Nguyen Quang Khai, general director of Phu My Ford in Ho Chi Minh City, reported that his company's dealership network has received approximately 20 flood-damaged vehicles from Khanh Hoa. He noted, "Dealerships in the flood-affected areas face difficulty processing such a large number of damaged cars simultaneously".

An overwhelming number of vehicles requiring repairs is common across most authorized service centers and private garages in Nha Trang, one of Khanh Hoa's most severely flooded areas. Service centers are reluctant to provide customers with specific vehicle delivery timelines.

A representative from Toyota Nha Trang's service division reported receiving hundreds of customer repair requests that cannot yet be addressed. Their showroom was also flooded, resulting in significant damage to machinery and equipment, and it remains closed. Similarly, at the MG dealership, operations are resuming incrementally as staff clean and repair equipment. Areas that are restored first begin operations, prioritizing customer vehicle reception and maintenance.

A service director at a Japanese car dealership in Khanh Hoa noted that while repair components at authorized workshops are not fundamentally scarce, they are not as readily available as usual. Car owners experience extended waits not only due to the high volume of vehicles but also because flood-damaged cars require time-consuming, step-by-step inspections.

For flood-damaged vehicles, beyond visible exterior and interior damage, electrical systems and engines are also susceptible. Repair costs can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dong, depending on the damage's severity.

Automakers such as Toyota, Ford, and MG are prioritizing the distribution of parts and components to dealerships in the Central region to meet local customer repair demands. Many brands, in collaboration with their dealerships, are offering free inspections for flood-damaged vehicles and subsidizing 50% to 100% of engine oil replacement costs.

For common components, if an authorized dealership lacks stock, orders from the factory are typically received within the day, with the exception of rare parts that are infrequently damaged and must be sourced internationally. Private garages may face longer lead times for parts.

By Bui Toan and Thanh Nhan